Softball Wraps Up Opening Weekend of MAC Play

Sunday, March 20

Oxford, Ohio

12:00 p.m.

Kent State University

6-11, 0-2

Miami

9-10, 2-0

Kent State

Miami

Photo by: Tony Walsh

Softball Wraps Up Opening Weekend of MAC Play

3/20/2022 8:23:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score

OXFORD, Ohio – The Kent State softball team was unable to deliver timely hits on Sunday, losing both games of a Mid-American Conference doubleheader at Miami, 1-0 and 2-0 in eight innings.

Sophomore Jessica LeBeau and redshirt senior Andrea Scali were excellent in the circle for the Golden Flashes (6-12, 0-3 MAC), limiting the RedHawks' explosive lineup to only eight hits while striking out 15 batters.

Senior Sabrina Kerschner led Kent State at the plate with a pair of singles.

Game 1: Miami 1, Kent State 0
Jessica LeBeau (3-5) retired the first seven batters of the day and took a no-hitter into the bottom of the fourth inning. Kate Kobayashi started the frame with a solo homer to give Miami a 1-0 lead.

Madyson Cole hit a leadoff double in the top of the fifth. Cole advanced to third on a sac bunt by Sabrina Kerschner, but Kent State was unable to bring her home.

The Golden Flashes threatened again in the sixth inning, which started with a single up the middle by Alexandria Whitmore. A groundout and wild pitch moved Whitmore to third with two outs, but a strikeout ended the frame. Kent State was retired in order in the seventh to end the game.

LeBeau totaled eight strikeouts and allowed just three hits over six innings.

Game 2: Miami 2, Kent State 0 (8 innings)
The nightcap was a pitcher's duel between the last two MAC Pitcher of the Year recipients, Kent State's Andrea Scali and Miami's Courtney Vierstra.

It was scoreless after seven innings, and Sabrina Kerschner started the top of the eighth with a single down the left field line. Kerschner advanced to second on a sac bunt but was stranded there following a strikeout and groundout.

Miscommunication on a fly ball allowed the RedHawks' leadoff batter in the bottom of the eighth to reach second. Scali then recorded a groundout, but Allie Cummins followed with a home run for the walk-off win.

Scali (0-6) finished with seven strikeouts and allowed five hits over 7.1 innings.

On Deck for the Flashes
Kent State will open its home schedule next weekend against rival Akron. The teams will play a single game at 3 p.m. on Friday, March 25. First pitch for Saturday's doubleheader from the Diamond at Dix is slated for 1 p.m.